Sudan: ICRC facilitates transfer of five persons in Darfur

18-12-2013 News Release 13/233

Khartoum/Nairobi (ICRC) – Three persons released by an armed opposition group, the Sudan Liberation Army – Abdel Wahid (SLA-AW), and an additional two – a seriously sick woman accompanied by her husband – were taken by helicopter today to Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, where they were placed in the care of the Sudanese authorities. They were accompanied by two delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which served as a neutral intermediary in the transfer operation.

"This is the 10th such operation this year. So far, the ICRC has assisted in handovers involving a total of 81 people, including South Sudanese prisoners of war released by the Sudanese authorities, and members of the Sudanese armed forces and civilians released by armed opposition groups," said Jean-Christophe Sandoz, head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan. "The ICRC is ready to carry out more such operations if asked to do so by the parties concerned."

Today's operation had originally been planned for the transfer of the three released persons only, but the sick woman's family approached the ICRC delegates involved and asked them to take her to Nyala for urgent medical care. The delegates contacted the Sudanese authorities in Nyala as well as the hospital to make sure that she would receive emergency care upon arrival.

The ICRC has been working in Sudan since 1978. In 2003 it extended its operations to Darfur, where it helps people suffering the effects of armed conflict and other violence.